This brief letter summarizes the battle being waged within the believer between walking in love and walking in error.
True love - expressed in obedience - produces the richness of delight in God (vs. 6). But walking in error and heresy yields the emptiness of deception and danger (vs. 7-11). John serves to alert us to the these same potential pitfalls in our lives today.
This book was written toward the end of John’s life. It was penned approximately 60 years after the crucifixion and John was the last remaining apostle. It’s interesting to study this book knowing that John probably was almost certainly focusing on the bottom line of the bottom line of things he wanted others to know and the legacy he wanted to leave behind regarding following Jesus and living the Christian life. There is some urgency to this book, yet it is about things most of us have heard time and time again. Love God; love others. There are no radical new concepts in this book, just as there are no radical new concepts now regarding the Christian journey. The “Jesus way” is so simple, but that does not mean it is easy. It is so simple, but generation after generation keeps looking for the “new things” that will bring newfound “secrets" to life, joy, enrichment, etc. However, as Jeremiah 6:16 instructions: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ANCIENT PATHS, ask where the good way is, and WALK IN IT.”
INVITATION: We have not been left without instruction. As you read, study and pray with this “hit single,” don’t underestimate the importance of its familiar message about the “ancient paths” toward which we are directed. Whom or what do you welcome into your life? Do these people and activities and experiences encourage you to walk in love and obedience - - or in error? How are you loving others in your life, including those tough to love? As you are honest with yourself, how are you in the area of obedience and surrender to God? In I Samuel 15:22-23 we are told that obedience is better than sacrifice. Saul lost his kingship over his failure to obey God. God is serious about obedience. Is it time for you to take it seriously in your life? We cannot love as Jesus commanded without Jesus being in charge in our lives. Is there a chance you have taken over control of your life?
MONDAY: 2 John 1:1-2: This rather odd beginning was probably written in a veiled way because of the persecution that was occurring during this time. John was either writing to a lady who was leading a church, or it was written to The Church (the bride of Christ) and he was using intentionally vague language. How often do you pray in gratefulness that we can worship without persecution in our country? It isn’t like this in all countries, and even within the USA, Christianity is coming up against more and more obstacles. Perhaps you might feel called to pray on a regular basis for freedom to worship Jesus Christ within our country and for more people to come to know and love Him? Also, continue praying for our new neighbors around the new Rockhills location. We are praying the Spirit of God permeates that neighborhood, the marriages and the families. We are also praying that revival can happen, perhaps even beginning at Rockhills Church.
TUESDAY: 2 John 1:3-4. Truth is mentioned four times in these few verses. This in a book of the Bible that only has 13 total verses that the author penned toward the end of his life. Do you think relaying what is truth might have been important to John? As you contemplate this in a day and age where it's not popular to ascribe to any “absolute truths,” how do you feel about the truth that Jesus Christ is The Messiah, the Savior sent to save the world? Scripture says He is the “way the truth and the life.” Sometimes it's powerful to ask yourself the question Jesus asked Peter: “Who do YOU say that Jesus is?” Who is Jesus to YOU? Have you surrendered your life and made Jesus your Savior and your life? There is a huge difference between that type of relationship or simply knowing ABOUT Jesus. Do you feel you KNOW Jesus or only know about Him?
WEDNESDAY: 2 John 1:4-6: Parents and teachers can readily grasp the message of these verses. John’s heart seems to be overflowing with joy that others within the church are living out the truth of walking in love. In our day, when many relationships both within and outside the church are fractured by greed and the desires for ease and self advancement, it is wise and necessary to follow this Biblical counsel…..this TRUTH. What does it mean for you to walk in love with the significant people in your life? What is the greatest hurdle you have to overcome in order to walk in love? How much joy does your church bring to Jesus Christ by the way its people interact inside the church? By the way those people interact with those outside the church? How is your love and obedience displayed within your faith community?
THURSDAY: 2 John 1:7-13: “Many deceivers who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh have gone out into the world…” As King Solomon wrote in the Old Testament, “there is nothing new under the sun.” It was true then, it is still true today. Do you look for all the new, shiny things when it comes to following Christ and finding a community of believers? What about in your personal times with God? Do you tend to look for the latest App rather than to the very Word of God itself (scripture)? Could all those things be distractions from the one REAL thing? What would “getting back to the basics” look like in your faith journey? Could that be an invitation to you from God this week?
FRIDAY: I John 2:3-6: Looking back at 1 John, we are reminded about love and obedience, the bottom line basics John again emphasizes in 2 John. There is some strong language in these verses: “The man who says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” Do you feel some resistance as you read this? If so, perhaps that is an area for prayer today and in the days following?
SATURDAY: I John 4:19-21: In these verses we find more strong language regarding love and obedience: “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar.” It goes on to say that anyone who does not love his brother cannot love God. How are you doing at the deepest level regarding loving your “brothers?” That includes those who are hard to love. Ask God to show you any areas of your life that might need surrender as we close this week. Its all so simple, yet not easy: Love God, love others. It's the mission statement of Rockhills Church, and the parting message of John as he penned the “hit single” of 2 John. How will you love God and others in 2020? Pastor Tim Keller has a quote: “Christians don’t believe that goodness gets you to heaven. Christians believe it’s exhausting to rely on your own goodness to please God.” Are you ready to surrender and RELY ON GOD to love others through you and quit trying to do this Christian journey yourself?